Spader



July 21, 1925.

J. EKEHORN SPADER Filed Auz. 23. 1924 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES JANE EKEHOEN, OF MILWAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

SPADER.

Application filed August 23, 1924. Serial No. 733,835.

Z70 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JANE EKErionN, a subject of Sweden, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spaders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to digging or spading machines.

This invention is an improvement over that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,096,160, issued May 12, 1914 to SA. Ekehorn for digging machines.

Objects of this invention are to provide a digging machine in which the sliding and resilient connection between the cross heads and the shanks of the digging units is avoided and a more rugged and less expensive construction substituted therefor, which will more efiiciently and with less wear accomplish all of the purposes for which it is designed.

Further objects are to provide a digging machine in which resilient teeth are employed for the digging or spading units, and in which the construction is such that the diiferent groups of digging units are prevented froin inadvertently turning or shifting.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the'digging mechanism showing in dotted lines the associated portions of the truck.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the spade heads, such view corresponding to a section on the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a front View of one of the spade heads.

The digging machine comprises a truck 1 of any suitable type upon which there is pivotally mounted a rocking rigid frame member 2 adjusted angularly by any suitable means, as for example, the segmental rack 3 and the cooperating pinion 4:-

This frame carries a plurality of bearings 5 which receive a main movable crank shaft 6 driven from the engine of the truck in any suitable manner. This crank shaft 6 is provided at alternate sides with a plurality of cranks 7 which fit in cross heads 8. These cross heads are preferably formed of two portions jointed and bolted together at the crank pins 7 as shown in Figure 1. This cross head is provided with apertured portions, as shown in the broken or sectioned portion of the Figure through which threaded shanks 9 and 10 of the spading units extend. Locking nuts 11 are screwed upon the threaded shanks and bind against the upper and lower portions of the cross head thus securely positioning the shanks. In addition to this, a bracing member 12 is securel fastened to the shanks above the cross head and maintains them in correct relative position in addition to the action of the (33. 1'53 head. One of the shanks, preferably the forward shank 9 is extended upwardly and is provided with a collar 13 adjacent its upper end to which the free end 14 of a lever is pivoted. The other end of the lever is pivotally carried by a bracket 15 rigidly mounted upon a shaft 16 extending transversely across the frame. This shaft is carried in clamping bracket members 17, which, by means of the nut 18, are adapted to lock the shaft 16 in any desired angular adjustment.

The lower ends of the shanks are apertured and provided with a saw cut or opening 19 (see Figure 2) so as to Provide a clamping bearing, a bolt 20 being used to draw the bearing, into any degree of bind ing relation with reference to the adjustable transverse shaft 21. This transverse shaft extends outwardly upon opposite sides of the lower ends of the shank and is provided w ith headed terminals 22. Obviously, one of such terminals may be made removable if desired.

A plurality of inherently resilient or yielding spading teeth 23 are carried by each of the transverse bars 21. These teeth are gradually curved, as shown in Figure 2, andare preferably pointed. Their upper end is wound in a spiral 24 around the bearing 21 and the extreme inner end is turned radially inwardly, as indicated at 25 and received within a keyway or slot in the bar 21. Any number of spading teeth may be positioned upon the bar 21, as desired. In the form shown four such teeth are employed, the inner ones being mounted upon In the operation of the machine, the operator rocks the supporting frame 2 into its operative position. The crank shaft 6 is driven and the crank pins 7 rotate thus causing the cross heads 8 to travel in circles about the center line of the shaft, it being understood, of course, that a row of digging units are provided across the machine and a corresponding number of cranks. As the cranks descend they drive the spading teeth into the ground and, upon further rotation, rock the lower ends of the digging unit outwardly while the upper ends are tilted inwardly towards the machine by the action of the link 14c thus accurately simulating hand spading.

It is to be noted that the construction is such that a very rugged spading machine is provided and due to the inherent resiliency of the spading teeth themselves, that when any obstruction is encountered by the teeth they will yield and prevent breaking of such teeth. In addition to this, the action of one tooth in its yielding operation is wholly distinct from, and does not interfere with, the action of any other tooth.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

I claim:

1. A spading machine comprising a frame, a shaft journalled thereon and having a crank, a cross head operatively coupled to said crank, a shank carried by said cross head and having a transverse lower bar, and a plurality of inherently resilient spade teeth carried by said bar.

2. A spading unit for a. digging machine, said unit comprising a shank having a transverse lower bar provided with a key way, and a plurality of resilient spade teeth each having an extended body portion and an upper portion coiled around said bar and provided with an inturned end seated within said key way.

8. A spading unit for a digging machine. said unit comprising a shank having a transverse lower bar provided with a key way, a plurality of resilient spade teeth each having an extended body portion and an upper portion coiled around said bar and provided with an inturned end seated within said key way, and means carried by said bar for spacing successive teeth.

4. A spading unit for a digging machine comprising a shank, a transverse bar having a key way, means for adjustably clamping said bar to said shank, and a plurality of resilient spade teeth each having an extended body portion and an upper portion coiled around said bar and provided with an inturned end seated within said key way.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Vvisconsin.

JAN E EKEHORN. 

